Apparatus for placing splines



Oct. 1953 F. c. RUSSELL ETAL 2,

APPARATUS FOR PLACING SPLINES Filed Dec. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Frank C- Russell Charles m Porter ATTORNEYS 1953 F. c. RUSSELL ETAL 2,654,402

APPARATUS FOR PLACING SPLINES Filed Dec. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 42 93 25 274 "II/ \l ll 1 J! a i )5 l u if "IT Wi /9 ff l l I 3 I Z0 14/ INVENTORS Frank C. Russell Charles "'3 Porter BY 5M #7144;

ATTORNEYS I i atented Oct. 6

2,654,402 APPARATUS FOR PLACING PLINES Frank C. Russell, Cleveland, and Charles W. P01";

ter, Fairview Village, Ohio, assignors to The F. C. Russell Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a cor= poration of Ohio Application December 8, 1947, Serial No. 790,296

11 Claims. (Cl. 140-409) This invention relates to the placing of splines in grooved or channeled frames and more particularly to the placing of such splines in a continuous or progressive manner such as in the assembling of window screens and the like.

The art of assembling window screen inserts and glass lights in frames for use as window and door inserts has frequently resorted to the use of splines that are pressed into grooves formed in the frames and held in place by the expansive force exerted by the splines or by an interlocking arrangement between the splines and the frame members. Difficulties have been experienced in pressing splines into frame grooves because of variable factors encountered, such as dimensional differences arising out of manufacturing tolerances, frictional characteristics of splines made out of different materials and human factors involved in manual methods of assembly. Such difficulties and others not specifically mentioned have been encountered par ticularly in the assembling of window screens of the type having grooved metal frames to which flexible screening material is attached by a flexible and deformable spline that is pressed into the groove of the frame with the screening ma terial interposed therebetween.

The principal object of the invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for inserting or placing splines into the grooves of frames, more particularly to provide such a method and apparatus for inserting flexible splines in frame grooves in a progressive substantially continuous operation.

Other objects are concerned with the provision of a spline inserting apparatus wherein the movement of the frame and spline during the progres sive operation is effected by frictional engagement between an operating tool and the spline.

Another object is to provide a spline pressing or placing device employing relatively movable members for forcing a spline into a frame groove.

in which: one or both of the members is a roller; the roller is motor driven so that it effects translation of the frame and spline assembly by frictional engagement therewith; and a control is responsive to the movement of the members toward one another for energizing the drive motor to start the translation of the frame and is responsive to movement of the members apart to de-energize the motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

frame and spline relative to rollers operates to progressively force the spline into the groove, one of the rollers acting as a tool to bear against the spline during such operation. More specifically it is sought to provide such a device in which one of the rollers, preferably the tool roller, is motor driven. As a preferential arrangement the invention also seeks to provide such a device in which the motor driven tool roller is stationary while the other roller is movable to apply the clamping pressure that forces the spline into the groove. A still further refinement of the preferential arrangement is one in which a control means, associated with the mechanism for moving the pressure roller, is so arranged that, upon movement of such roller toward the tool roller, the drive motor is energized to rotate the tool roller and, upon movementof the pressure roller away from the tool roller (releasing the clamped frame) the drive motor is de-energized.

Other objects and advantages relate to particular arrangements and combinations of parts looking toward simplification and economy and will become apparent as the following detailed description of a suitable embodiment proceeds. This description is made in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like parts being indicated by the same numerals of reference throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the spline pressing or placing device showing a screen frame mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device from the operators side;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale with respect to the preceding view and with parts broken away, showing the cooperating rollers that clamp the frame and spline assembly to press the spline into the groove of the frame;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the gear train and belt drive for actuating the driven tool roller, and

Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the driven tool roller and associated gear train for driving the same.

Work table The spline placing device is preferably used in connection with a supporting structure or table A which comprises a pair of long legs I and a pair journaled inrmnt wa1i zzand'aro's of a housing structurewhich-encloses a eartr'aip or stops 4 which may be in therormbfst'raight" metal or wooden strips securedtoathe top surface of the table adjacent and parallerrelationito the lower edge of the latter? The table leg's *1 and 2 may be of wood or metal, such as metal angles, and are connected by a n ul nber of ho gizontal stabilizing cross members 5 adjacent their lower ends. The table top 33s of fiat smootE-i material such as sheet metal oifl'composition wallboard to 'permit screenjframes beinglassembled to:-be -1slid over thejsurface'thereofwith aminimum of frictional restraint; Reinforcingzqmernbers; figextend across .between the upper.- ends: of wtheglegs. l-xa'nd 2 andunderlie the table top 3: to .=support thelat ter.

Clamp rollers f Adjacent the surface of the tablenear theflo'wer e ge thereof a' pair ofrollers l'fland H. are mounted for rotation about: parallel" aksthati are also parallel .to' the "article "supporting surface of {the -gtable 3. w The roller ll] is a, tool or spline pressing froller andlisls cured verticallyabove the roller ID on a shaft l2 having a fixed'axis abov'e the .tabl'esur'face. f'The. roller H is movable toward and away from the tool roller Il'll through an opening 13 in' thetable top 31 A leverfarm .I4 is centrally p'ivoted'on apin lfi carried by brajckets'a l6 1 a s et r m t lind r i e 1th? tab t 3 and are secured to the latter adjacentthe opening l3 by screws H. One end of the lever I4 is u e up a d a smi ated-t r eirest r e s re rQller, H wh Inflati ashafi: supported. in ,the bifurcated endof the-1e r. {I-he other. end of the lever is connected bya l nk; rod

7 'f ,1 0 we per ed a :WGPiYQtd of :the cross members near: thefcentenofthe :l t n mv a eca con en t l Qwl h i p rl The weight of the pressure roller I I; and them furcated or left-hand end {Fig.15)zof gthej;lever arm J4 normally causes thearm: to turn lon the pivot 1| 5-,in a counter-clockwisedlreotionso that the pressure roller 1 I is lowered through-:theopenwing; [3: tea positionnbelowthe article supporting level or the table top 3; :A spring, not shown may also be employed to raise the link -rod,l 9 and the .treadle 28, so as normallyzto.-hold the pressure roller H. in loweredposition in whicht it is' withdrawn through the table openingill-3 to an mac tive position to avoid interfering with'the movement of articles-such. as the ;screen'fr-ame B." on

- the smooth table top.

When the treadle 20 is depressedbyjtheropera- .tor the link I 9 turns the, lever .Hlin aaoldckwise di 1 rection (Fig.5);moving the 'pres'surerolle'r l l upwardly through the table opening .-l3-iarid'.toward the tool-ro1ler I0i so' as toclamp a scream-frame and spline assembly therebetween,

Drive The shaft l2, mounting the tool roller), is "mber 23 that is arranged to' turii' the shart' rand-thereby lfl rmembers may he made of metal, the parts being "we1dedt6'gether, or as shown, the cover 213 can be madsremovableaand held to an internal framerlr' by icapi'screws 43, the framework being sed; o a' bas' plate 25 that extends beyond the side meat ess-:15 apertured to receive bolts 26 tl gt secure ;the housing structure to the table top 3. A pair of countersh afts 21 and 28 are mounted within the drive housing and are journaled in the :cross memberF-23'and reaitwall 129 of thezhoiising for rotation; aboutuax'esl :thati'parallel thelrota- *tional-axis of zlthe stool rollershaft :l 2.11 A series "of 'reduction-ge'arssl-fiw and 3! on the shafts' l2 and"21,:respectively;-and*32' and 33 on th'e shafts 521 and 28;respectively, 'form a gear train con- I heating the shafts: in' such" a manner that 1 meta- "-tion ofthe: shaft: 28fiturns the tool roll'er' -l 0 at a relatively low rate of sp'eeclu lout with considerable torque. w 7 I Anelectric' driveim'otor 35 is mountedonhorizontal supportingme'mbers 36-carriedby cross frame members? 3 7. and: vertical-frame members I 38- attached to the table structure. A --sheave or pulley 39,'secured-}o n a; shaft driven by the mo- 35 :tor 'shaftthrough an electr-icallycontrolled clutch 1* (not shownlg' dr-ives a belt at which extends up- -wardly throiigh an opening in the table tenet-a is "trained-around a larger pulley or sheave dt-secured on-the end ofthe' shaft 28 which projects 40: through the wall29 of the' drive h us hgi- In' this -rnarmer the energy of the eletr'ic motor-35f is transmitted: through} the -V-l5elt{ fit andthe gear train to drive or rotatethe shaft forthe tool roller tlfl ata' much lower rate of speed than-'the'elecytric motors A-suitable speed for the roller fil depends on the li ear speed at which it 'is-desired -i toinsert or press the spline into the frarnegroove, and the cir'cumference ofthepressure roller El'n- -i-. ploying a -"pressure-*'roller 1 approximately two inches in diarneter and rotating suoh roller? at F1 from about-fiftyrevolutions per minute 'to' about t o hundred- ?re'imlutiohe 5 per minute," preferably I about one hundred thirty 'revolutions' per ininuteis suitablefor norrhaluse and applications such as that described herein. IA grease orlubricant is -lmaintaihedfwithinthedriveho'using and a curved A cover or guard 42 "is; secured over the sheave '4 I, -b'e'ing attachedto thedrive housing 7 by cap screws ta conductors,- not shown, connect the 1 switch- 16 to the r'notor-{clutc'h"andstill othericonductor nect a source'bff electrical power t'dthe motor -to energ i 'ze thef-latter. "lheijswitch is {at rated s by fai-piyoted arm 4% having 01f its endaroller 49 that is engageable by the inclined surface of a cam 50 carried by link rod l9. The cam is slidable along guides 5| on the panel 45. When the treadle 20 is depressed by the operator to raise the pressure roller ll upwardly through the table opening l3 into operative position, the downward movement of the link rod l 9 moves the cam 50 against the switch roller 49 so that the switch 46 is actuated to open the electrical circuit (which otherwise energizes the motor clutch to disconnect the motor drive) thereby starting the rotation of the tool roller I0. Conversely when the operator releases the treadle 20 to drop the pressure roll ll below the table level, the cam 50 releases the control switch 56 so that the built-in clutch of the drive motor 35 is energized, disconnecting the drive, and the tool roller it stops simultaneously with the lowering of the pressure roller ll.

Operation In operating the device to assemble a spline in the groove of a frame, for example a rolled metal screen frame, the frame B is placed on the table 3 with the spline groove on the top or opening upwardly. Screening material C previously cut to proper size is then placed over the screen frame in overlapping relation with respect to the spline groove of the latter.

A spline D which may be in the form of a circular sectioned rod of deformable plastic material is then placed on the screening material along and in parallel relation to the frame groove. One end of the spline D is brought under the pressure or tool wheel or roller ID, the frame B being disposed against the guides 4 so as to extend across the table opening 3 in overlying relation to the pressure roller II. The operator then depresses the foot treadle 20 drawing the link rod IS downwardly to raise the pressure roller H upwardly against the underside of the frame B so that the latter is lifted substantially to the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. As the frame is thus raised the spline rod D is engaged by the tool roller l0 and forced downwardly into the groove of the frame 13, the screening material C which lies between the spline rod D and the frame being forced into the groove ahead of the spline. The spline is of such diameter with respect to the groove in the frame that it has a press fit therein, holding the screening material tightly against the walls of the channel or groove.

The tool wheel It is narrower than the spline receiving channel in the screen frame and preferably is narrower than the spline rod D so that contact between the screening material C' and the tool roller is avoided. This feature is of importance when the screening material C is of plastic material which might be damaged by contact with the roller l0.

As the bottom or pressure roller ll raises the screen frame into operative position with respect to the tool roller [0 the cam 50 actuates the motor clutch control switch 46 which connects the drive for the tool roller I0 through the mechanism described. The electric motor 85 operates continuously, being governed by a master control switch. Frictional engagement between the tool roller It and the spline D causes the latter to be drawn along under the roller, feeding the spline into the channel or groove in the frame. The frictional grip of the channel side Walls on the inserted portion of the spline D causes the screen frame B and the screening material C to be drawn along with the spline D so that the spline is progressively forced into the frame groove in a substantially con-- tinuous operation along the length of the frame member, the pressure roller l l holding the frame in raised operative position and offering a min-' imum frictional resistance to the movement of the screen frame during the process.

When the spline has been thus inserted in; the frame groove along one of the screen frame members to the end of the latter the operator re-- leases the foot treadle which lowers the screen. frame onto the table 3 and stops the rotation of. the tool roller It. The operator then turns the: screen frame on the table tobring the next: adjacent member of the screen frame against one: of the guides 4 and, after bending the spline around the corner of the frame, again depresses: the foot treadle to raise the screen frame 01f the table into operative position with respect to the.- tool roller. The spline is then fed into the grooves of the adjacent frame member in a continuous or progressive operation, pushing the screen material into the groove and feeding the screen frame along under the tool roller by frictional engagement with the spline.

At each corner the operator momentarily stops the tool roller and lowers the frame onto the table by releasing the foot treadle in the manner described so that the screen frame can be turned. and the spline rolling process performed in sequence along each of the sides of the screen frame. During each spline placing movement the screen frame is guided by the strips 4 toprevent the tool roller ill from riding out of the spline groove. After the spline D has been inserted in the spline groove along all four sides of the screen frame the excess screening material and spline rod or strip are trimmed off and the operation is complete.

Although the process has been described using,- a single flexible spline of deformable material that extends along all four sides of the screen: frame, it is also contemplated to use four sep-- arate pieces of spline material, each being in-- serted in the groove of one of the screen frame: members.

The principles of the present invention may beutilized in various ways, numerous modifications. and alterations being contemplated, substitution;

of parts and changes in construction being re sorted to as desired, it being understood that; the embodiment shown in the drawings and olescribed above and the particular method set forth. are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope: of the claims to the specific details disclosed;

What we claim is:

1. A device for placing splines in grooved. frames comprising a frame receiving table, a. spline pressing tool mounted above the table, a. member mounted on the table and movable to.- raise a frame above the table into association with the tool so that the tool engages a splinev disposed along the groove of the frame and; presses such spline into the groove, and means; for actuating the tool while the latter is engaging; the spline to effect relative movement of the tool and supporting member along the raised frame; and spline.

2. A device for placing splines in grooved. frames comprising a frame receiving table, a. spline pressing tool mounted above the table, a. member mounted on the table and movable to raise a frame above thetable into association .e e ally;-; eas s a 1th. the r o e-.111 asu po te Q. ZQB lh sp in t me th o v ed en r means o e ni ns an ncludin m n ans or-e re Z n th actuating means upq relative movement of the 1. teweniihesunp mean nd ror deen r izin .11 1??- aeti atm xme nsnro el v ie enient ra tther o A A. \devioe; for pl ac; ing .,.splin.es :in grooved it? s; comp 'sing..a=-f,-ramereceiving supporting ure a lowly, spline pressing tool mounted aid. s gnatu e, aamember, mounted on the th i vi e u tureiw movement. t d n y from the rotary tool means for-operating said member tobear against a framereceived. on .the structure and move the irameso theta spline associated with the frame groovetis brought .into engagemen? ith. :the. ota y tool andv press d. t y into the groove and the member holds the frame wi h; the-re.t ry- 99 ese ne h l o, that reilslei n, ihei l me eedihe spli a o the i l pl ee ,fihlin mih oo as bsta iiall ee illl ils Q nra i iniean o ota ins he te t r bile; .i oe en a qihe splin w r bvaeei tra s atio th am a th spline is effected through frictional contact bewee he eel. and. the spline- 5. A device onplacingsplines zin grooved .frame em isin :ai e-r.e ee .ne upn tine structure, a ea. n l ne pr ssi too mou ed o ei s mew m membenmeum o t structure. for movement toward and 1 away from t e a -vteeliwme i s e o e atin ei memw eat eea n a .irames e -enjth sinture and move the-{frame soythat a splineassociated with the frame; groove;isv brought into engagement with the rotary ,tool. -and pressed er i ihaerwveen th membernmdS r m with th rotar to a a n sp ine so tha re e a ofath r em and-t Spline al ng th -i 0 a es h spl the roeveiin a substantially. continuous operation, means. for rotating the vtool; while the tool-engages thespline whe e y-s -tr i ati n; o the .fram and t lim fi-gfifii tfidih fqu h .f etionali contachbe tweenthe tooland thespline and control means overning the tool rotating-means and including mea s respo v tQsaid-movementoi t e mber toward the tool to energize the rotating meansand respqnsiveitoisaid.movement of the embe awaym ithefteo to. -e ere the r tatin meanen e sniine inser in device-,.;.ortthe;like, a iihbls$liWlir forssupnortingia. grooved; frame.

nermean oward one e iiaii e; .-i17 .e-:i0 -.-whi e. the ;,la s

i-:Eor;.-movement :to" difierentaipositions the reonfla z-wheel and means mounting thezsame for -rota- .ztion above 1 the table,- amember.- movablearelati've sto the 'xtable'z for engaging a' frame. supported on :-the table andmoving the frame towards-the wheel .-:;whereby the wheel can :for'ce L a "spline disposed .ialongt-the groove into the r-latter, rthe. :member ebeing arrangedpto hold the frame against the wheeLwhile the latter-is rolledxalong. awspline being inserted in the ;groove,- .and'mea'ns. for drivingrthe wheelto draw the frame alongbysfrico tional engagement with. the spline.

'7. In combination in apparatus for assembling asp-lines into grooved members of=sash frames and ithe like a table for-supportingsa :groovedframe for movement to different 1 positions- *there'ona a -'tool wheel. and nieanssuppdrtingsuch: wheel for rotation above the table; the table havingJ-an opening below the toolwheel, a membersupported by the tableflfor up, and down movement through the table opening, and means for actuating the movable member to move upwardly through the opening against the underside oi? a grooved frame member supported on the table .and to raise such-member off 'the table and-toward the toolwheel whereby a spline-disposed in registry with the groove of the frame member is engaged by the tool wheel and pressedinto the groove, and means responsive :tothe upward .movement of the movable member. for rotating the tool wheel to movesaid frameby the frie tional thrust of said wheel on saidspline; andto progressively press said spline into the groove.

8. In combination in apparatus for assembling splines-into grooved side members of sash frame's and the like, a tablefor supporting a sash frame for movement to different positions 'thereonand having a-longitudinal guide for engagement-with a side'edge of a'sas'h frame, a tooLwheeland means supporting such wheel for rotation above a grooved frame -memberengaging said guide, the table having an opening below the tool wheel, aroller and means supporting the roller on the table for up and down movement through the table. opening and .for rotation aboutan axis generallyparallel to the rotational axispf the .tool wheel, means for raising the roller above the' table level against the underside of the grooved" frame member in engagement; withsaid guide to tilt thesashframeion' the table and to liftsuchnmember off the table and .tohold such memberv against :the underside of. the v-.to'ol:.vvhe.el whereby a spline disposed in registry with the groove-20f the frame .member is engaged. by'jthe tool andpressed into the-groove; andymeansresponsiveto upand down-movement of; the roller fondriving the tool .wheelwhile the roller is: above table leveL-to move said frame along saidqguide and; to progressively press; said :spline intothe r ve-- 9. In combination imapparatus; for .assembl;i ng spl nes in o ve ide- -me b r of; sa h fram and the likehga' table for supporting;,a grooved frame for-movement. to differentipositionsr thereonpme'ans; on. the table! engageable with -a-;- supported frame: tos uide the frame-1 alon ira sub stantially reetilinear .path; :a: tool-zwheel' and means; supporting: such wheel for; rotation, above the table, in a plane substantially parallel -,to said path, means fer actuating themoyablemem her to move'upwardly against theunderside of a grooved framememberto tilt the sash frame-and raise. snob-member Ofiathfi table-and: against-the toolgwhereby 1 a; spline disposed .:in registry with the groove of the; frame :member; isaenga'ged obi the tool and pressed into the groove, the guide means being adapted to remain in guiding relation to a frame member during the raising thereof and to locate the frame member in predetermined relation to the tool wheel, and means for driving the tool wheel so that an engaged spline is progressively pressed into the groove of the raised frame and the latter is moved longitudinally along the guide by frictional driving engagement between the rotating tool wheel and the spline.

10. Apparatus for placing splines in grooved side members of sash frames or the like, a sash supporting table inclined downwardly toward a side edge thereof, a longitudinal guide on the able adjacent its lower side edge for positioning a sash with a grooved side member thereof against said guide, a spline pressing wheel posi tioned to overlie the grooved side member that engages said guide at a distance above the same less than the height of said guide, a vertically movable roller positioned to underlie said wheel for lifting the side of the frame engaging said guide and engaging a spline overlying the groove of the frame side member with said wheel to press the same into the groove, actuating means for raising and lowering said roller, and means for driving said wheel to advance said frame along said guide and to progressively press said spline into the groove.

11. Apparatus for placing splines in grooved side members of sash frames or the like, a sash supporting table inclined downwardly toward a side edge thereof, a longitudinal guide on the table adjacent its lower side edge for positioning a sash with a grooved side member thereof against said guide, a spline pressing wheel positioned to overlie the grooved side member that engages said guide at a distance above the same less than the height of said guide, a vertically movable roller positioned to underlie said wheel for lifting the side of the frame engaging said guide and engaging a spline overlying the groove of the frame side member with said wheel to press the sameinto the groove, actuating means for raising and lowering said roller, means for driving said wheel to advance said frame along said guide and to progressively press said spline into the groove, and means operated by said roller actuating means for controlling said wheel driving means to start rotation of said wheel in response to upward movement of said roller and to stop said wheel when said roller is lowered.

FRANK C. RUSSELL. CHARLES W. PORTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,441 Warner Oct. 23, 1888 554,907 Bosley Feb. 18, 1896 739,312 Peregrine Sept. 22, 1903 1,026,789 Darlinton May 21, 1912 1,496,239 Lynch June 3, 1924 1,665,522 Barr Apr. 10, 1923 1,713,809 Allee May 21, 1929 1,931,786 Zimmerman Oct. 24, 1933 1,958,965 Goldberg May 15, 1934 2,219,805 Buttress Oct. 29, 1940 

